Yikes: INEOS prepare to directly ignore Amorim plea and sell his trusted lieutenant if their ‘demands are met’



INEOS chiefs are considering every option when it comes to raising transfer funds this summer, with almost no Manchester United player deemed off-limits.

Two players who, remarkably, face uncertain futures at Old Trafford are Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo – a prospect no fan would’ve believed had it been speculated in the aftermath of last season’s FA Cup final, during which both youngsters secured the win with their first-half goals.

Yet, that is indeed the case heading into the forthcoming transfer window. Contract talks with Mainoo have been ongoing for almost 13 months, but to no avail, as both parties are yet to reach a breakthrough that would result in the England international committing his long-term future to his boyhood club.

As for Garnacho, he fell slightly out of favour early on in Ruben Amorim’s tenure due to the stellar form of Amad Diallo and the tactical switch across the board. He was omitted from the matchday squad entirely for last December’s Manchester derby, though he did return in the subsequent match against Bournemouth – unlike Marcus Rashford, who was exiled until his January loan exit. 

INEOS adopt open stance on Garnacho sale amid Mainoo uncertainty 

Mainoo and Garnacho are no longer considered unsellable by United. (Photo by Charlotte Tattersall/Getty Images)

Following his one-game absence, the 20-year-old was utilised off-the-bench for four straight league matches before re-claiming a starting spot – albeit this was mostly due to the lack of options available when Amad suffered a season-ending injury layoff, and both Antony and Rashford departed.

In the winter window, United did rebuff a £40 million bid for the winger that came in from Napoli, instead slapping a price tag in the region of £70m on their academy graduate amid mooted interest from European clubs. When it became clear he was staying put until at least the summer, one report claimed Chelsea were confident they’d ‘laid the groundwork’ for a deal in the coming months.

Now, despite Amorim making it abundantly clear he wants to keep Garnacho (and Mainoo) at his disposal, INEOS would again be open to shifting the Argentine if their ‘demands are met’, according to GiveMeSport.

“I want players like Kobbie and Garnacho,” said Amorim in January. “The focus is that we have to improve the academy, and we have to bring more [players through]. That is something that all the clubs in England have to take advantage of – the players that come from the academy.”